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Giant eucalypts – globally unique fire-adapted rain-forest trees?
Citation
Tng, DYP and Williamson, GJ and Jordan, GJ and Bowman, DMJS, Giant eucalypts - globally unique fire-adapted rain-forest trees?, New Phytologist, 196, (4) pp. 1001-1014. ISSN 0028-646X (2012) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 the Authors
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04359.x
Abstract
Tree species exceeding 70m in height are rare globally. Giant gymnosperms are concentrated
near the Pacific coast of the USA, while the tallest angiosperms are eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.) in
southern and eastern Australia. Giant eucalypts co-occur with rain-forest trees in eastern
Australia, creating unique vegetation communities comprising fire-dependent trees above fireintolerant
rain-forest. However, giant eucalypts can also tower over shrubby understoreys (e.g.
in Western Australia). The local abundance of giant eucalypts is controlled by interactions
between fire activity and landscape setting. Giant eucalypts have features that increase
flammability (e.g. oil-rich foliage and open crowns) relative to other rain-forest trees but it is
debatable if these features are adaptations. Probable drivers of eucalypt gigantism are intense
intra-specific competition following severe fires, and inter-specific competition among adult
trees. However, we suggest that this was made possible by a general capacity of eucalypts for
‘hyper-emergence’. We argue that, because giant eucalypts occur in rain-forest climates and
share traits with rain-forest pioneers, they should be regarded as long-lived rain-forest pioneers,
albeit with a particular dependence on fire for regeneration. These unique ecosystems are of high
conservation value, following substantial clearing and logging over 150 yr.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | eucalyptus, forests, rain forest |
| Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecological Applications |
| Research Field: | Landscape Ecology |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Author: | Tng, DYP (Mr David Tng) |
| Author: | Williamson, GJ (Dr Grant Williamson) |
| Author: | Jordan, GJ (Associate Professor Greg Jordan) |
| Author: | Bowman, DMJS (Professor David Bowman) |
| ID Code: | 82376 |
| Year Published: | 2012 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 50 |
| Deposited By: | Plant Science |
| Deposited On: | 2013-01-29 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-01-24 |
| Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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